They should sedulously avoid, both in what they say and in what they do, anything that might lead our separated brothers and sisters or any other people into error concerning the true teaching of the church.

The people of God have here no abiding city; they seek rather one that is to come. Therefore the religious state, while giving its followers greater freedom from earthly cares, also makes clearer to all believers the heavenly goods that are already present in this world.

Through martyrdom the disciple is made like his master in willing acceptance of death for the salvation of the world and resembles him by the shedding of his blood. For this reason, therefore, martyrdom is held by the church to be the highest gift and the supreme proof of love. This is given to few, yet all must be prepared to confess Christ before

In accordance with the knowledge, competence or authority that they possess, they have the right and indeed sometimes the duty to make known their opinion on matters which concern the good of the church.7 If possible this should be done through the institutions set up for this purpose by the church; and it should always be done with respect for the

So through their competence in secular disciplines and their activity, interiorly raised up by the grace of Christ, they are to work effectively so that the goods of creation, in accordance with the plan of the Creator and the light of his word, through human work, technical skill and civilisation, may be developed for the good of everyone without

Therefore, even when occupied with temporal cares, the laity can and must perform the valuable task of evangelising the world. Some lay people, when there is a shortage of sacred ministers or when these are impeded by a persecuting government, supply some of the sacred offices in so far as they can; a greater number are engaged totally in apostolic

evangelisation—that is, the message of Christ proclaimed by word and the witness of life

The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the church’s mission of salvation, and everyone is commissioned to this apostolate by the Lord himself through baptism and confirmation.

Therefore the chosen people of God is one: “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4, 5). There is the common dignity of the members from their regeneration in Christ; they share in common the grace of being heirs, the call to perfection, one salvation, one hope and one undivided charity. There is, therefore, no inequality in Christ and in the chur